Communication terminal apparatus and control method thereof

ABSTRACT

A communication terminal apparatus such as a portable telephone apparatus has a main body, a selection operation unit, an operation inputting unit, a display unit, and a controller. The main body has a speaker and a microphone. The selection operation unit is provided on the main body and selects one mode from a plurality of modes of the communication terminal apparatus. The operation inputting unit is provided on the main body and changes functions based on the mode selected by the selection operation unit. The display unit is provided on the main body and displays information required for selection operation or inputting operation by the selection operation unit and/or the operation inputting unit. The controller sets a mode selected based on the input from the selection operation unit, and switches a function of the operation inputting unit based on the input from the selection operation unit. The controller controls display operation of the display unit based on the input from the selection operation unit and/or the operation inputting unit.

This is a division of prior application Ser. No. 08/932,942 filed Sep.17, 1997, which is a division of application Ser. No. 08/421,945, filedApr. 13, 1995, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a communication terminal apparatus anda control method thereof, and more particularly, to the communicationterminal apparatus having a selection operation unit and the controlmethod thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

Communication terminal apparatuses such as portable telephones thatparticularly require portability are commonly used these days. In suchcommunication terminal apparatuses, a single input key has a singlefunction assigned thereto. That is, separate keys such as dial key,communication start key, communication end key, and redial key areassigned independently.

There are some communication terminal apparatuses in which a pluralityof functions are assigned to a single input key. However, thesefunctions are not selected by a user but automatically selectedaccording to the state of the communication terminal apparatus. Forexample, a single input key is used for different operations accordingto operation state or operation mode of the communication terminalapparatus such as busy or waiting state.

However, if a single function is fixedly assigned to a single input keyas described above, the number of input keys inevitably increases memberof with increasing functions of communication terminal apparatus. Incommunication terminal apparatus using a single input key for differentfunctions according to the operation state or the operation modethereof, the number of input keys is not effectively reduced becausefunctions to be assigned are limited. For example, only a set offunctions used only during transmission or a set of functions used onlyduring waiting state can be used for such duplicate assignment.

Further, in a portable communication terminal apparatus such as portabletelephone that must have a small size, an increase in the member ofinput keys results in an increase in the size of the apparatus, and thusthere occurs a problem of degraded portability.

Further, the increase in the member of input keys make it more difficultto select an input key to be operated, which gives an impression thatthe equipment cannot be operated easily. In addition, there occurs theproblem that the user often presses incorrect keys.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide acommunication terminal apparatus which resolves the above-mentionedproblem.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a controlmethod of communication terminal apparatus which resolves theabove-mentioned problem.

According to the present invention, there is provided a communicationterminal apparatus including a selection operation unit and a operationinput unit. The selection operation unit selects one mode from aplurality of mode of the communication terminal apparatus. The operationinput unit changes its function based on the mode selected by theselection operation unit.

According to the present invention, there is provided a communicationterminal apparatus including a main body, the selection operation unit,the operation input unit, and a display unit. The main body has aspeaker and a microphone. The selection operation unit is provided inthe main body to select one mode from a plurality of mode of thecommunication terminal apparatus. The operation input unit is providedin the main body to change its function based on the mode selected bythe selection operation unit. The display unit is provided in the mainbody to display information which are required for at least theselection operation and/or the input operation by selection operationunit and/or operation input unit respectively.

According to the present invention, there is provided a communicationterminal apparatus including the main body, the selection operationunit, the operation input unit, the display unit, and a controller. Themain body has the speaker and the microphone. The selection operationunit is provided in the main body to select one mode from a plurality ofmode of the communication terminal apparatus. The operation input unitis provided in the main body to change its function based on the modeselected by the selection operation unit. The display unit is providedin the main body to display information which is required for at leastselection operation and/or input operation by the selection operationunit and/or the operation input unit respectively. The controller setsthe mode selected based on the input from the selection operation unit,and switches function of the operation input unit based on the inputfrom the selection operation unit. Also, the controller controls thedisplay operation of the display unit based on the input from theselection operation unit and/or the operation input unit.

According to the present invention, there is provided a control methodfor the communication terminal apparatus having the selection operationunit for selecting one mode from a plurality of mode; the operationinput unit for changing function based on the mode selected by theselection operation unit; the display unit for displaying informationwhich is required for at least selection operation and/or inputoperation by the selection operation unit and/or the operation inputunit respectively; and a memory for storing a plurality of data ofcommunicates including the telephone numbers and the names of thecommunicatees input by the operation input unit. The control methodselectively displays a first display state for displaying thecommunicatee assigned to the operation input unit based on the datastored in the memory, and a second display state for displaying the datastored in the memory in alphabetical order of the communicates.

According to the present invention, there provides the operation inputunit which can change function by operation from the selection operationunit, so that many functions can be selectively switched withoutincreasing the number of keys required for input. Therefore, smallercommunication terminal apparatus can be realized.

The nature, principle and utility of the invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts aredesignated by like reference numerals or characters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the integral part of a portabletelephone according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an external drawing showing the portable telephone accordingto the first embodiment at its default state;

FIG. 3 is an external drawing showing the portable telephone accordingto the first embodiment at its state A;

FIG. 4 is an external drawing showing the portable telephone accordingto the first embodiment at its state B;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing corresponding to soft keys ofthe portable telephone according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic front view showing a second embodiment of theportable telephone as a communication terminal apparatus according tothe second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the integral partof the communication terminal apparatus according to the secondembodiment;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic diagrams explaining a small font;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic diagrams explaining a large font;

FIGS. 10A to 10C are state transition diagrams explaining the switchingof the fonts according to the number of input characters;

FIGS. 11A to 11C are schematic diagrams showing the switching of adisplay screen using a menu key;

FIGS. 12A to 12C are schematic diagrams showing the switching of adisplay screen using a clear key;

FIGS. 13A to 13C are schematic diagrams showing the switching of a modeusing the menu key with a movable arm microphone closed;

FIG. 14 is a schematic plane view showing the approximate mechanism of ajog dial;

FIGS. 15A and 15B are plane views showing the configuration of rotaryencoder;

FIGS. 16A and 16B are signal waveform diagrams showing output waveformsby the rotary encoder;

FIG. 17 is a state transition diagram showing the switching of thedisplay screen using the jog dial;

FIGS. 18 and 19 are state transition diagrams explaining various callingprocedures;

FIG. 20 is a state transition diagram showing a calling procedure from atelephone book list;

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the arrangement of characters in thetelephone book list;

FIG. 22 is a state transition diagram explaining retrieval using numerickeys;

FIG. 23 is a state transition diagram showing a return from a detailedinformation display screen to a list display screen;

FIG. 24 is a state transition diagram showing an example of aregistration procedure of a new record on a telephone book list screen;

FIG. 25 is a state transition diagram showing an example of aregistration procedure of a new record on the telephone book listscreen;

FIG. 26 is a state transition diagram showing a editing procedure of adisplay screen displayed on the telephone book list screen;

FIG. 27 is a state transition diagram showing a menu list screen;

FIG. 28 is a state transition diagram showing a detailed display screenof a mode setting screen;

FIG. 29 is a state transition diagram showing a detailed display screenfor a various mode setting list screen;

FIG. 30 is a state transition diagram showing a detailed display screenfor a ringer setting screen;

FIG. 31 is a state transition diagram showing a detailed display screenfor a volume setting screen;

FIGS. 32 and 33 are state transition diagrams explaining a scrollfunction; and

FIG. 34 is a state transition diagram showing an example of switchingfrom a detailed information display screen to another screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings. Incidentally, in the followingembodiments, description will be made by taking a portable telephone asan example of a communication terminal apparatus.

First, the following description is about the portable telephoneaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention using FIGS. 1to 5.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the integral part of the portabletelephone according to the first embodiment. Reference numeral 10 showsthe portable telephone. Reference numeral 11 is a controller forexecuting a terminal control program. Reference numeral 12 is a displayunit composed of LCD (liquid crystal display) provided on a box, and 13is a display driving circuit. The display data is supplied from thecontroller 11 to the display driving circuit 13, so that the displaydriving circuit 13 drives the display unit 12.

Reference numeral 14 shows an operation unit provided on the box. Theoperation information input by the operation unit 14 is supplied to thecontroller 11. Then, the controller 11 controls various operations suchas communication and display operations based on the supplied operationinformation.

Reference numeral 15 shows a ROM (read only memory) for storing anoperation program for the controller 11. Reference numeral 16 shows aRAM (random access memory) which is used for a working region when theprogram operation of the terminal control by the controller 11 isexecuted.

Reference numeral 17 shows a baseband and RF unit, which modulatestransmitted signals and demodulates received signals. Reference numeral18 shows an antenna for transmitting and receiving.

The external construction of the portable telephone 10 is, for example,constituted as shown in FIG. 2. The display unit 12 is provided on oneof main surface of the box to display various displays to the user. Asthe operation keys corresponding to the operation unit 14, a soft key 1,a soft key 2, a soft key 3, a scroll knob 4, and numeral/alphabet keys 5used for dial call and character input are allocated. On one side of thebox, the scroll knob 4 is provided so that the user can rotary operate.Further, on the other side of the box from where the scroll knob 4 is, arotatable arm portion 19 is provided. A microphone 20 is provided on thefree end of the arm portion 19. By turning upside of the arm portion 19toward downside in FIG. 2, the user can talk on the telephone. Further,on the upside of the main surface of the box, a speaker 21 is providedin which the demodulated signal from the baseband/RF unit 17 issupplied.

The soft keys 1, 2, and 3 have their functions varied according to thestate set by the scroll knob 4. The current function of each of the softkeys 1, 2, and 3 is displayed in a function display region 12 a of thesoft keys in the display unit 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the functiondisplay region 12 a of the soft keys is located close to the positionsof the soft keys 1, 2, and 3, so that the user can easily understand thecurrent function of each of the soft keys 1, 2, and 3.

The scroll knob 4 is constituted as a rotatable knob in the up and downdirections indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2. When rotating the scrollknob 4, the user feels that the scroll knob 4 is, for example, clickedso as to sense the rotational stages.

FIG. 2 shows a default state wherein the user does not operate thescroll knob 4. In this state, the following words are displayed on thefunction display region 12 a of the soft keys to show the function ofeach of the soft keys 1, 2, and 3: the words “SEND” meaning a calloperation in response to the soft key 1; “END” meaning a communicationend operation in response to the soft key 2; and “CLEAR” meaning a clearoperation of input numerals in response to the soft key 3.

When the scroll knob 4 is rotated downward, the controller 11 regardsthat the default state has shifted to the next state (assume that it is“state A”) and that the functions of the soft keys 1, 2, and 3 have beenchanged. As shown in FIG. 3, the following words are displayed in thefunction display region 12 a of the soft keys to show the function ofeach of the soft keys 1, 2, and 3 in state A: the words “MUTE” meaning amute operation which mutes the sound output from the speaker 21 inresponse to the soft key 1; “LOCK” meaning a key lock operation inresponse to the soft key 2; and “REDIAL” meaning a redial operation inresponse to the soft key 3.

When the scroll knob 4 is further rotated downward in state A, thecontroller 11 regards that state A has shifted to the next state (assumethat it is “state B”), and further changes the functions of the softkeys 1, 2, and 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the following wards are displayedin the function display region 12 a of the soft keys to show thefunction of each of the soft keys 1, 2, and 3 in state B: the words“ALPHA” meaning an alphabet input call operation in response to the softkey 1; “MEM” meaning a memory call operation in response to the soft key2; and “LIGHT” meaning a back light operation in response to the softkey 3.

In state B in FIG. 4, when the scroll knob 4 is rotated upward for onelevel, the state is returned to state A in FIG. 3. When the scroll knob4 is further rotated upward, the state is returned to the default state.In this manner, the controller 11 controls the display of the displayunit 12 and the switch of each part based on the input operation fromthe scroll knob 4.

If no operation has been performed for a specified length of time beingin state A or B, the controller 11 controls to automatically return tothe default state shown in FIG. 2.

In this manner, aforementioned three states is selected by the scrollknob 4 and the function of each of the soft keys 1, 2, and 3 areswitched. Each of the soft keys 1, 2, and 3 thus can be used as theoperation keys corresponding to the three functions.

The controller 11 executes predetermined operation control based on theinput from the soft key 1, 2, or 3. The processing in the case where thesoft key 1, 2, or 3 is pressed is shown in FIG. 5. The processing flowshown in FIG. 5 is stored in the ROM 15 connected to the controller 11.

If the soft key 1 is pressed (F101), the controller 11 determineswhether or not the current state is default, A, or B (F104, F105). Ifthe state is default, the controller 11 executes the send operationcontrol (F106). If the state is A, the controller 11 executes the endoperation control (F107). If the state is B, the controller 11 executesthe clear operation control (F108).

Similarly, when the soft key 2 is pressed (F102), the controller 11first determines whether or not the current state is defaults, A, or B(F109, F110). If the state is default, the controller 11 executes themute operation control (F111). If the state is A, the controller 11executes the key lock operation control (F112). If the state is B, thecontroller 11 executes the redial operation control (F113).

Similarly, when the soft key 3 is pressed (F103), the controller 11determines whether or not the current state is default, A, or B (F114,F115). If the state is default, the controller 11 executes the alphabetinput function call control (F116). If the state is A, the controller 11executes the memory function call control (F117). If the state is B, thecontroller 11 executes the back light operation control (F118).

As described above, the user can select the functions of the soft keys1, 2, and 3 by the scroll knob 4, and the controller 11 controls thefunctions set according to the current state, so that various operationscan be executed with a small number of keys. Therefore, it is possibleto realize the portable telephone with a large number of functions aswell as being in miniature.

Furthermore, the functions which are used most frequently, such as sendfunction, end function, and clear function, are set in the defaultstate, and the functions which is relatively not used very much, such asalphabet input function, memory call function, and back light function,are set in state B, so that the user can use the portable telephone at aminimum of operation of the scroll knob 4. Therefore, the simplicity ofthe operation can be improved.

Furthermore, if the keys are not operated over a specified length oftime, the state is automatically returned to the default, and the softkeys 1, 2, and 3 are always set to the functions such as send functionand end function which are frequently used. Therefore, the usability canbe further improved.

In addition, since the functions of the soft keys 1, 2, and 3 in eachstate are displayed in the function display region 12 a of the soft keysin the display unit 12, the user can visually check what functions thesoft keys are currently, thus can operate the portable telephone with noconfusion.

The present invention is not only limited to the first embodiment, butvarious modifications can be made thereto instead. For example, thenumber of the soft keys may be one, four or more. In addition, thestates selected by the scroll knob are not only limited to the threestates (default, A, and B), but may be two, four or more.

In addition, the functions set for the soft keys and the designspecification based on the use frequency are not only limited to theembodiment, but can be determined according to the usage of theapparatus and mounted functions.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the scroll knob 4 is used as a selectionoperation unit. However, other operation means such as press keys may beused.

Next, the detailed description about the portable telephone as acommunication terminal apparatus according to the second invention ofthe present invention will be made below.

(1) Overall Construction

(1-1) Body of Apparatus

The overall configuration and the circuit configuration of a portabletelephone apparatus 31 are described using FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively.The portable telephone apparatus 31 is composed of a main body 32 and anarm microphone 33 attached to its side rotatably and freely opening orclosing. Thus, by closing the arm microphone 33, the portable telephoneapparatus 31 can further be miniaturized.

The arm microphone 33 has the function for controlling on or off hook inresponse to the opening and closing operation, and the function fordisabling operations by keys other than specified ones during the closestate (referred to as a “key lock function”). This key lock state can bereleased by opening the arm microphone 33. This prevents erroneoustransmission and receiving calls due to malfunctioning.

On the other hand, the main body 32 has various operation keys and aprocessing circuit. On one of the main surface of the main body 32, aspeaker 34 paired with the arm microphone 33, a display unit 35 composedof liquid crystal display elements, and a plurality of operation keys 36to which various functions are assigned are provided. Inside of the mainbody 32, a controller 47 composed of a micro computer in which data isinput and output to and from the speaker 34, the display unit 35, andthe plurality of operation keys 36 is provided.

The controller 47 controls the display unit 35 via a display drivingcircuit 35A to display information corresponding to the instructioninput from the operation keys 36 using a font of an appropriate size.

The controller 47 operates based on programs stored in a ROM 48 and dataread into a RAM 49. The controller 47 also controls atransmitting/receiving circuit 40 to transmit and receive information toand from other communication terminals via an antenna 41 connected tothe transmitting/receiving circuit 40. The controller 47 has a cardsocket 43 connected thereto, and reads out all the managementinformation on a subscriber from a subscriber ID card 42 (in the secondembodiment, a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card 42 is described)inserted into the card socket 43.

The program and the control data is stored in the ROM 48, by which thecontroller 47 executes and controls the operation of the portabletelephone for displaying and calling according to the second embodimentdescribed later.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the display unit 35 used in the second embodimenthas pixels of 32×97 dots arranged on the display surface thereof as amatrix to display information using two types of fonts. One of the fontsis a small font for displaying a single character with 5×7 dots, asshown in FIG. 8B, and the other is a large font for displaying a singlecharacter with 15×8 dots, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. Therefore, fourcharacters lengthwise and sixteen characters breadthwise can bedisplayed by using the small font, and two characters lengthwise and tencharacters breadthwise can be displayed by using the large font.

The large font is in principle used to display characters input by theuser, and the small font is used to display messages from the apparatus.If the number of characters input by the user exceeds the specifiednumber of characters (twenty characters), the font size is switched fromlarge to small font.

An example of display is shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C. As shown in FIG.10A, while the number of input characters is ten or less, charactersinput by the user are sequentially displayed in the large font below asmall font message “input dial No”. When number of the input characterexceeds ten, the first ten characters are displayed in the upper line inthe large font instead of the message, and 11th and subsequentcharacters are displayed below these ten characters in the large font,as shown in FIG. 10B. When the number of input characters reaches andthen exceeds twenty, all the input characters are displayed in the smallfont, as shown in FIG. 10C.

In this manner, the font switching function is provided, so that theuser can input large characters with checking the contents of the inputwhile the number of input characters is small. Thereby, theopportunities of erroneous inputs can be reduced. If the number of inputcharacters is large, this function enables input information on the sameitem to be checked on a single screen. This allows the contents of theinput to be easily understood.

(1-2) Operation Key

Next, the operation keys 36 provided on the main body 32 are described.In the second embodiment, the operation keys 36 are composed of thefollowing ten keys: a power supply key 36A, numeric keys 36Bcorresponding to “0” to “9”, a “#” key 36C, a “*” key 36D, a send key36E, an end key 36F, a menu key 36G, a clear key 36H, a recording key36I, and a jog dial 36J. Eight operation keys 36A to 36H out of thesekeys are located on one of the main surface of the main body 32, and theremaining two operation keys 36I and 36J are located on side of the mainbody 32.

Main functions assigned to the respective operation keys are as follows.The power supply key 36A is used to supply power to the internal circuitin the main body 32. When the power supply key 36A is pressed once, thepower is supplied to the apparatus, and when the power supply key 36A ispressed twice, the power supply is turned off. If the user has not inputa PIN (Personal Identity Number) for thirty seconds after the power wassupplied by the power supply key 36A, the controller 47 detects thecircumstance and automatically turns off the power. In this manner, itis possible to prevent the power from continuing to be supplied duringmalfunctioning.

Next, the description will be made about the ten numeric keys 36B. Theseten numeric keys 36B are used to input numbers and alphabets and toselect the numbers. In this embodiment, a plurality of alphabets areassigned to eight numeric keys “2” to “9” other than the “0” and “1” sothat alphabets can be input by these keys. For example, “a” to “c” areassigned to a numeric key “2”, “d” to “f” are assigned to a numeric key“3”, and the other alphabets are assigned to the other correspondingnumeric keys.

When inputting alphabets, pressing a numeric key once enables the firstcharacter to be input, pressing same key twice enables the secondcharacter to be input, and pressing same key third times enables thethird character to be input. The numeric key 36B can also be used toselect display items, and to execute an abbreviated dialing function inwhich instruction is performed to start calling to the communicateecorresponding to the numeric key by continuously pressing for aspecified length of time (one second) on the display screen of thetelephone book list.

The send key 36E is used to instruct to start calling to a communicateeselected from the display screen of the telephone book list, and to callthe past dial history.

The end key 36F is used to instruct to end communication. Incidentally,communication can also be ended by closing the arm microphone 33.

The menu key 36G is used to switch between an initial screen and a menuscreen that are displayed on the display unit 35. For example, assumingthe screen shown in FIG. 11A is the initial screen, when the menu key36G is pressed while this initial screen is being displayed, the displaycan be switched to a menu screen as shown in FIG. 11B. Further, thisscreen can also be switched to another screen as shown in FIG. 11C as ifpaging the screen, by using a scroll function described below. If,however, the menu key 36G is pressed while a menu screen is beingdisplayed, the display immediately returns to the initial screen,whatever the menu screen may be. By using the clear key 36H, the displaycan be returned to a previous screen as if pages were turned, as shownin FIGS. 12A to 12C.

The menu key 36G have a function as the only key for releasing the keylock state. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, even whenthe arm microphone 33 is closed, the key lock state can be released toshift to a key active state by pressing the menu key 36G.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 13B and 13C, if the menu key 36G ispressed while the arm microphone 33 is closed and while a menu screen isdisplayed, the state returns to the key lock state.

If no operation has been executed for thirty seconds since a menu screenwas displayed, the control 47 detects this and closes the menu screen toreturn to the initial screen. In this case, if the arm microphone 33 isclosed, the state returns to the key lock state. This prevents frommalfunctioning.

The recording key 36I is used to control the recording of conversationsduring communications and the subsequent reproduction thereof, and isequipped on the upper surface of the main body 32 and opposite to thearm microphone 33 so that the user can operate this key using the handgrasping the main body 32.

The following description is about the jog dial 36J having a centralfunction out of the ten operation keys. The jog dial 36J is provided onthe upper part of one of the side of the main body 32, near the speaker34, which is located opposite to the arm microphone 33. As in therecording key 36I, the user can operate the jog dial 36J using the handgrasping the main body 32.

The jog dial 36J can be operated either in the circumferential directionor in the radial direction, respectively, and is composed of adisc-shaped member (constituting a rotary encoder) that rotates in thecircumferential direction (indicated by arrows “A” and “B”) with an axisof rotation O as the central, a slide plate (not shown) that can slidein the radial direction (indicated by arrows “C” and “D”), and a slideswitch SW, as shown in FIG. 14. The slide plate and the slide switch SWare subjected to force in direction C. The slide switch SW is operatedby which the rotary encoder or the disc-shaped member is operated in thedirection of D; pressed in the direction of going into the main body 32.

The axis of rotation O is fixed to the slide plate. When the jog dial ispressed in direction of the arrow D, the rotary encoder and the jog dialare slid en bloc to press operate the switch SW, and the switch SW isswitched to the “ON” state. The controller 47 determines whether or notthe jog dial 36J has been clicked, that is, press operated by detectingthe “ON” or “OFF” state of the switch SW based on the output signal fromthe switch SW.

The rotary encoder slid en bloc with the slide plate is composed of twodiscs 36J1 and 36J2, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B. The disc 36J1 is amovable member covering the upper surface of the disc 36J2, and isequipped so that it can be rotated relative to the disc 36J2 fixed tothe slide plate. The movable disc 36J1 has a pair of facing electrodes36J21. When assembled, the pair of opposite electrodes 36J21 slidablycontact twenty pairs of facing electrodes 36J22 provided along thecircumference of the disc 36J2. Incidentally, the facing electrodes36J22 provided to the fixed side of disc 36J2 are formed in such a waythat the positions of the inner and the outer circumferential electrodesare slightly shifted.

Thus, when the jog dial is rotated in direction of arrow A shown in FIG.15B, the electric potential of the inner track side output from thefacing electrodes falls earlier to the earth potential, as shown in FIG.16A. On the other hand, when the jog dial is rotated in direction ofarrow B in FIG. 15B, the electric potential of outer the track sideoutput from the facing electrodes falls earlier relative to the earthpotential, as shown in FIG. 16B. In this manner, the controller 47detects which electric potentials of the inner and outer track fallsearlier, so that the rotational direction of the jog dial 36J can bedetected. In addition, the number of pulses output from the outer trackelectrode is counted by a counter in the controller 47, the number ofrotations of the jog dial 36J thus can be detected.

Next, a typical example of operation of the portable telephone using thejog dial 36J is described. When a list screen is displayed on thedisplay unit 35, the cursor K displayed on the display unit 35 can bemoved vertically by rotating the jog dial 36J circumferentially upwardor downward, thereby one of the display items displayed on the displayunit 35 can be selected. In this state, pressing the jog dial 36J in theradial direction, that is, in the direction of going into the main body32 (hereinafter, this operation is referred to as “clicking”) makes itpossible to input a read-out command for detailed information concerningthe item at which the cursor K is to the controller 47.

In addition, in the case where the telephone book list is displayed, bypressing the jog dial 36J continuously for a specified length of time,the user can instruct the controller 47 to initiate a call. As describedabove, the rotary encoder of the jog dial 36J press operates the switchSW, and it is detected whether or not the jog dial 36J has been pressoperated for a specified length of time by the controller 47 based onthe output signal from the switch SW. Incidentally, by rotating the jogdial 36J in the circumferential direction during communications, thevolume (reception volume) can be adjusted. This is operated by detectingthe direction and the number of rotation of the jog dial 36J by thecontroller 47 to control volume output from the speaker 34 based on theoutput signal output from the rotary encoder of the jog dial 36J asshown in FIGS. 16A and 16B. Also, the mute operation can be performed byclicking the jog dial 36J during communications. Since the switch SW ofthe jog dial 36J is press operated by being clicked the jog dial 36J,the controller 47 executes the mute operation to the signal supplied tothe speaker 34 based on the output signal from the switch SW. Therefore,the mute operation is performed.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a typical example of the use of the jogdial 36J during an outgoing call.

By being clicked the jog dial 36J while a list screen such as thetelephone book or a redial screen is displayed, it is possible todisplay detailed information concerning the selected item on the screen.If the jog dial 36J is clicked continuously for a specified length oftime, it can be initiated to call automatically to the communicateedisplayed where the cursor is. If the jog dial 36J is rotated to movethe cursor K upward or downward, it can be returned to the original listscreen.

(2) Call/Editing

(2-1) Call

In this section, various calling methods provided for the portabletelephone apparatus 31 are described. This portable telephone apparatus31 has five calling methods as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. These methodscan be classified into a calling method using the telephone book list, acalling method using a redial function, a calling method of directlyinput telephone number, and a calling method using the abbreviateddialing function. The method of calling from the screen of the telephonebook list is first described.

(2-1-1) Call from the Telephone Book List Screen

When the jog dial 36J is clicked while the arm microphone 33 is open, orwhile an external microphone is connected to the main body 32, or whilea hands free kit is connected to the main body 32, the display on thedisplay unit 35 is switched from the initial screen shown in (A) of FIG.20 to screen of the telephone book list shown in (B) of FIG. 20.

As shown in FIG. 21, the telephone book list is composed of a displaysection of call frequency in which sets of address numbers “1” to “9”and registered communicatees with high frequency of call are displayed,and display section of descending order in which all the registeredcommunicatees (including those already registered with address numbers“1” to “9”) in the descending order (for example, the alphabeticalorder). The telephone book list is input by aforementioned numeric keys36B, and is stored in memory area in the controller 47 or in memory areain the RAM 49. The telephone book list is read out from the memory areain the controller 47 or the memory area of the RAM 49 based on thecontrol signal from the controller 47 to display.

Immediately after the display is switched to the telephone book list,the cursor K is located at the top of the items displayed on the displayunit 35, that is, address number “1”. The downward rotation of the jogdial 36J in this state enables the cursor K to sequentially movedownward through the address numbers, such as “2”, “3”, . . . . On theother hand, while upward rotation of the jog dial 36J enables the cursorK to sequentially move upward from the bottom item in the displaysections of descending order, such as Z, Y, X, . . . .

The method for selecting a communicatee by moving of the cursor Kincludes not only operation with the jog dial 36J, but also selectionmethods by inputting address numbers or alphabets. If, for example, thetelephone number of a communicatee is already registered with any of theaddress numbers “1” to “9” and address number is known, it is possibleto make the cursor K jumped by pressing the numeric key corresponding tothat address number. An example is shown in FIG. 22.

If the list screen is an alphabetical display screen, the cursor K canbe moved to the corresponding alphabet by the “1” to “9” numeric keys.For example, pressing “2” enables the cursor K to move to “a”, andpressing “3” enables the cursor K to move to “d”. If there is no namestarting with “d”, the cursor K moves to a name staring with “e” todisplay it. Further, if there is no name starting with “e”, the cursor Kmoves to the top of the subsequent names in the list.

Subsequent calling procedure is described assuming that the cursor K isto be moved to the position of “Jack” registered with address number “5”as shown in FIG. 20C. There is a plurality of calling procedures. Here,a method using the jog dial 36J is described.

When the jog dial 36J is clicked in this state, the controller 47switches the display screen to the display section of detailedinformation based on the output signal from the switch SW of th jog dial36J, as shown in (D) of FIG. 20. When the jog dial is further clickedfor one second, the controller 47 counts continuation time of the outputsignal from the switch SW of the jog dial 36J, as described above, andstarts calling. A data of a telephone number designated by the cursor K,for example, corresponding to the address number “5”, is read out fromthe memory area in the controller 47 or the exclusive area in the RAM49, and is transmitted from the transmitting/receiving circuit 40, sothat the calling operation is performed. At this point, the displayscreen of the display unit 35 flashes, as shown in (E) of FIG. 20.

It is possible to change the communicatee while detailed informationcomposed of the name or the abbreviation and the telephone number isbeing displayed on the display unit 35, as shown in (D) of FIG. 20, byrotating the jog dial 36J upward or downward. If, for example, the jogdial 36J is rotated upward while the detailed information is displayedon the display 35 as shown in (B) of FIG. 23, the display as (C) of FIG.23 can be returned to the list screen belonging to the upper layerdirectly above the detailed information screen. The position of thecursor K is, however, moved to the item directly above the communicatesof which the detailed information has been displayed. More specifically,the cursor K moves from “Ellis” with address number “5” to “John” withaddress number “4”, as shown in (C) of FIG. 23. The switching operationof the display is performed by changing the read-out address to thememory area in the controller 47 or to the exclusive area in the RAM 49in which the telephone book list is stored, or by changing the telephonebook list read out from the memory area in the controller 47 or theexclusive area in the RAM 49 by table.

The function that, if no operation is operated for a specified length oftime, for example thirty seconds, when in the state of displayingdetailed information, such as shown in FIG. 20 (D), a call will not beexecuted and closes the telephone book list to return to the initialscreen shown in (A) of FIG. 20, is provided. The timer in the controller47 counts or measures the elapsed time from when the jog dial 36J or thekeys 36A to 36H was last operated. If the timer in the controller 47detects that the jog dial 36J or the keys 36A to 36H are not operated atthe point of time that thirty second has passed, the controller 47outputs the control signal to switch the display screen on the display35. Therefore, even if a key capable of initiating a call isinadvertently pressed when the portable telephone apparatus 31 iscarried in a bag with a detailed display screen displayed, an erroneouscall does not occur. This function also works when the list screen isbeing displayed.

In addition to the method for initiating a call from the screen oftelephone book list, there is another method of pressing the send key36E while the display screen shown in (D) of FIG. 20 is being displayed.This is a method that a call is initiated after detailed information onthe communicatee is displayed, and the portable telephone apparatus 31also provides a function of initiating a call directly from the listscreen. For example, if the send key 36E is pressed while the displayscreen shown in (C) of FIG. 20 is being displayed, a call to acommunicatee at which the cursor K is positioned can be immediatelyinitiated. A call can also be immediately initiated by continuouslypressing the numeric key corresponding to a communicatee for one second.In these methods, the controller 47 detects the output signal from thesend key 36E or detects that the numeric key 36B is pressed for aspecified length of time, and controls the transmitting/receivingcircuit 40 to initiate a call operation. The method for detectingwhether or not the numeric key 36B is press operated for a specifiedlength of time can be executed similar to the aforementioned method fordetecting whether or not the jog dial 36J is pressed for a specifiedlength of time.

(2-1-2) Call from a Redial List Screen

Next, a calling operation from a redial list screen are described, asshown in (G) to (J) in FIG. 18. The redial list screen can be opened bypressing the send key 36E in the state of initial screen. That is, whenthe send key 36E is pressed while the screen shown in (A) of FIG. 18 isbeing displayed, the names of communicatee previously called (in thecase where it is called from the telephone book list) or telephonenumbers previously called (in the case where the telephone numbers aredirectly input) are displayed as shown in (G) of FIG. 18. Subsequentoperations of selecting a communicatee and calling operation are similarto calling from the telephone book list.

The function that, if no operation is executed for a specified length oftime (thirty seconds) while the list shown in (G) of FIG. 18 is beingdisplayed, determines that a call will not be executed, and closes thetelephone book list to return to the initial screen shown in (A) of FIG.18, is provided. This operation is controlled by the controller 47similar to the case of (D) of FIG. 20. This prevents an erroneous callif a key capable of initiating a call is inadvertently pressed when theportable telephone apparatus 31 is carried in a bag with a detaileddisplay screen displayed.

The portable telephone apparatus 31 also provides a function ofdisplaying how long the user talked in the preceding communication, andinformation of the communication periods of time of this time to thecommunicatee. For example, the preceding communication period of time isdisplayed as “4:25” as shown in (H) of FIG. 18, and the communicationperiod of time of this time is displayed as “0:00:55” as shown in (J) ofFIG. 19.

(2-1-3) Call by Input of a Telephone Number

In this case, the telephone number of a communicates can be input in thestate of initial screen shown in (A) of FIG. 18 using the numeric key36B. Then, the display screen shifts from the state shown in (A) of FIG.18 to another state shown in (K) of FIG. 18 to display the telephonenumber input by the user on the display 35 in the large font. In thecase where the number is correct, if the send key 36E is pressed, thescreen starts flashing as shown in (L) of FIG. 19 and a call to thecommunicatee is initiated. This function is executed in such a mannerthat the controller 47 controls the transmitting/receiving circuit 40based on the input data from the numeric key 36E using the input fromthe send key 36E as the trigger.

(2-1-4) Call by Abbreviated Dialing

This calling method includes two types: one of them is to continuouslypress the numeric key 36B for a specified length of time, and the otheris to use the numeric key 36B and the “#” key.

First, the method of using only the numeric key 36B ((O) and (P) of FIG.19) is described. While the display screen shown in (A) of FIG. 18 isbeing displayed, the user continuously presses for, for example, onesecond the numeric key 36B corresponding to the address number of acommunicatee that the user wants to call. This operation causes thescreen displayed on the display 35 to immediately switch to the detailedinformation screen, and a call is directly initiated. This function isexecuted in such a manner: when the numeric key 36B corresponding to theaddress number is operated, the controller 47 reads out the datacorresponding to the numeric key 36B from the memory area in thecontroller 47 or the exclusive area in the RAM 49, and then controls thetransmitting/receiving circuit 40 based on the data read out.

Next, the method of using both the numeric key 36B and the “#” key 36C((Q) of FIG. 18 to (S) of FIG. 19) is described. After pressing thenumeric key 36B corresponding to the address number of a communicatee onthe screen shown in (A) of FIG. 18 that the user wants to call, the userpresses the “#” key 36C to switch to a detailed display screen. The sendkey 36E is then pressed in this state, so that a call can be initiated.This operation is also executed by which the controller 47 controls thetransmitting/receiving circuit 40 taking similar steps to the calloperation by the short dial using the numeric key 36B.

(2-1-5) Registration/Editing

Next, methods for registering and editing telephone numbers in thetelephone book list are described. First, by pressing the menu key 36G,a menu screen is opened. Then, “Telbook edit” is selected from thescreen to enable telephone numbers and so on to be registered. Tworegistration methods are then possible. On the one hand, there is amethod for specifying the “new registration” item to input a newtelephone number. When registering a new communicates, the user operatesthe jog dial 36J to move the cursor K to the “new registration” item,and then clicks the jog dial 36J ((B) of FIG. 24).

Then, the display screen switches to (C) of FIG. 24 to displaycharacters prompting to input a name. When the user then operates thenumeric keys 36B, the input characters are displayed on the display 35as alphabets in the large font. Here, if it is alright to register theinput name, the user clicks the jog dial 36J to shift to a subsequentregistration screen of the telephone number. The user inputs a telephonenumber, and, if it is alright to register the input number, again clicksthe jog dial 36J. The new input name and so on is then registered in anempty area in the telephone book list, as shown in (D) of FIG. 24.

On the other hand, there is a method for selecting an unregisteredaddress number to register a name. In this case, the cursor K is movedto an unregistered address number, as shown in (A) and (B) of FIG. 25.In this embodiment, the number is “7”. When the jog dial 36J is clickedin this state, characters prompting to input a name is displayed on thedisplay 35.

The corresponding numeric keys 36B are then operated to input acommunicatee's name, and, if the name is correct, the user clicks thejog dial 36J to register, as in the registration procedure describedabove. A telephone number is then input according to an instructiondisplayed on the screen as shown in (D) of FIG. 25, and the user canregister the input telephone number by clicking the jog dial 36J. Theseare the registration procedures of the telephone book list. The dataconcerning the telephone book list registered in such a manner is storedin the memory area in the controller 47 or the exclusive area in the RAM49.

On the other hand, for editing, the cursor K is moved onto a name to beedited and the jog dial 36J is then clicked, as shown in (A) and (B) ofFIG. 26. When a registered item is selected in this manner, theapparatus enters an editing mode. In the editing mode, thecommunicatee's name to be edited and the contents of edition (edit,delete, or swap) are displayed on the screen. The user then operates thejog dial 36J to select the contents of editing.

If, for example, “delete” is selected, the display screen becomes aconfirmation screen to ask the user again whether or not the registeredcontents may be deleted, as shown in (D) of FIG. 26. If “Yes” isselected, a delete operation is executed which deletes a correspondingpart from the telephone book list.

If “swap” is selected, the display screen is switched to the (F) of FIG.26 prompting the user to indicate which address number should have itscontents swapped. When an address number to be swapped is input and thejog dial 36J is then clicked, a swap operation is executed and theregistered contents after swapping is displayed, as shown in (G) of FIG.26. In this embodiment, “8” is swapped with “6”.

If “edit” is selected, screens that accept a change in communicatee'sname or telephone number are alternately displayed in order that bothitems can be changed, as shown in (H) and (I) of FIG. 26. When the jogdial 36J is then clicked to confirm the contents to be changed, thedisplay screen switches to (J) of FIG. 26.

As a result of the edit operation performed in the aforementionedmanner, the data of the telephone book list stored in the memory area inthe controller 47 or the exclusive area in the RAM 49 is rewritten, asdescribed above. Incidentally, it may be possible to expand stored dataof the telephone book list once in the RAM of the controller 47 whileoperating edit operation, and then rewrite the data of the telephonebook list when the edit operation is finished.

(3) Menu Screen

(3-1) Contents of Items

Finally, the menu screen displayed when the menu key 36G is pressoperated is described. The menu screen has a hierarchical structure suchthat it can descend to the next lower layer (submenu screens) by clickoperating the jog dial 36J. Here, FIG. 27 shows menu screens W1 to W10in the highest layer prepared for the portable telephone apparatus 31,and FIGS. 28, 29, 30, and 31 shows submenu screens belonging to thelower layer.

The first menu screen W1 shown in FIG. 27 is used to edit the “Telbook(telephone book)” and to set the “mode”. By selecting of the “Telbook”item, a new telephone number can be registered or registered contentscan be edited. On the other hand, if the “mode” item is selected, thedisplay is switched to the menu screen shown in (A) of FIG. 28 so thatthe setting conditions suitable for the use environment can be selected.In this embodiment, four use environments are available for selection: a“normal mode”, a “pocket mode”, a “silent mode”, and a “driving mode”.

For example, when the pocket mode is selected as shown in (B) of FIG.28, the volume of a ring can be maximized (ringer on) and further thekey lock function can be activated. Therefore, even if the portabletelephone is used under the condition which is hard to hear the ring,the user can catch the ring, and further the key inputs irrelevant tooperation can be rejected.

When the silent mode is selected in (A) of FIG. 28, the ring can beabsorbed (ringer off), and the display 35 is flashed to inform the userof an incoming call instead of the ring. Therefore, the user can know ofan incoming call without bothering people around the user even in atrain. A function for automatically ringing off the line when noresponse is issued is also set during this mode.

When the driving mode is selected, the user can start communicationsautomatically upon an incoming call.

The second menu screen W2 in FIG. 27 is used to set a “SMS (shortmessage function)”. This menu screen displays three items as shown inFIG. 32: “Delete”, “Make Send”, and “Read”. When “Make Send” isselected, it is possible to select at the lower menu screen from thefollowing items: the production of a new sentence to be transmitted; theuse of a pattern sentence; the use of a stored sentence that haspreviously been transmitted; or the use of a stored sentence that haspreviously been received.

When “Read” is selected, it is possible to select similarly at the lowermenu screen from the following items: the storage or deletion of readcontents; a reply through a telephone; or a reply with a short message.

The third menu screen W3 in FIG. 27 is used to set a “Time” function. Asshown in FIG. 32, by selecting “set”, “alarm”, “sleep”, or “wake up” inthis menu screen, the current time, the time to give an alarm, orturning on/off can be set.

The fourth menu screen W4 in FIG. 27 is used to set a “PLMN (PublicLandit Mobile Network)” function. This menu screen displays “Selectionmode” and “Search” items. The former is used to select whether thenetwork should be set manually or automatically. The latter is thefunction that automatically retrieves and displays currently availablenetworks.

The fifth menu screen W5 in FIG. 27 is used to set a “PIN (personal IDnumber)” function. This menu screen displays “control” and “change”items. The former enables the setting of whether or not the input of anID number should be essential while operating, thus enabling the settingof whether the network can be used only by particular people. The latterenables an ID number to be changed.

The sixth menu screen W6 in FIG. 27 is used to set a “Forward” function.This menu screen displays “Intrro (interrogation)”, “Erase”, and “Regist(registration)” items. The “Intrro” item is used to inquire about atransfer service to the network, and “Erase” and “Regist” are used torelease and set a communicates, respectively.

The seventh menu screen W7 in FIG. 27 is used to set “BarOut (outgoing)”function. This menu screen displays items, “BOIC-exH (Barring ofOutgoing International Calls except those directed to the HPLMNCountry)”, “BOIC (Barring of Outgoing International Calls)”, and “BAOC(Barring of All Outgoing Calls)”. Selection of each item sets thecorresponding outgoing function.

The eighth menu screen W8 in FIG. 27 is used to set an “BarCome(incoming)” function. This menu screen displays items, “BICroam (Barringof Incoming Calls during Roaming except those directed to the HPLMNCountry)” and “BAIC (Barring of Incoming Calls)”. Selection of each itemalso enables to set corresponding incoming function.

The ninth menu screen W9 in FIG. 27 is used to set “Charge (charge)”information. This menu screen displays “Reset” and “Check” items. Theformer is used to reset charge information, and the latter displays thetotal charge.

The tenth menu screen W10 in FIG. 27 is a “Setting List” screen, inwhich the various items shown in FIG. 30 can be set. An instruction forthe screen next to this menu screen causes a return to the first menuscreen W1.

The setting list has five submenu screens in the lower layer, which aresequentially described. The first submenu screen SW1 displays fouritems: “Call ID PRESENT”, “Language select”, “ANY KEY ANSWER”, and “1Min BEEP”. “Call ID PRESENT” is used to set a function for transmittingthe user's telephone number to a communicates. “ANY KEY ANSWER” is usedto set a function which communications can be carried out even if anykey is pressed after an incoming call is received. “1 Min BEEP” is usedto set a function for informing the user of elapsed time by beepingevery one minute during communications.

The second submenu screen SW2 displays four items: “Ringer Select”, a“LowSignal Warn (low signal level warning)” function, a “LowBattery Warn(low battery warning)” function, and a “Ringer Volume”. “Ringer Select”is used to select one ring sound from three ring sounds as shown in FIG.29. “Ringer volume” is used to select an appropriate volume fromthree-level volumes as shown in FIG. 31.

The third submenu screen SW3 displays four items: “LCD Density” used forsetting brightness, “Change PIN2” used for changing a personal IDnumber, and “AutoVolume CTRL” that automatically increase the volumewhen there are a large amount of background noises, and “NoiseReduction”.

The fourth submenu screen SW4 displays four items: “Clock Display” usedfor determining whether or not the time should be displayed on thedisplay 35, “SMS ServCenter” used for changing the address of a servicecenter, “SMS Enquiry” that determines whether or not to show if amessage has reached a communicatee, and “SMS Telematic” that determineswhether or not a short message should be sent to a facsimile terminalequipment.

The fifth submenu screen SW5 displays three items: “SMS Class” forweighing a short message according to its importance, “Change Password”used for changing a password that regulates incoming and outgoing callswithin an additional service, and “Charge ACMM” used for setting afunction for restraining outgoing calls that exceed a certain upperlimit.

(3-2) Scroll Function

Next, a scroll function used for the portable telephone apparatus 31 toswitch among a plurality of menu or submenu screens belonging to thesame layer at a high speed is described in FIGS. 33 and 34.

With this scroll function, when upward movement of the cursor K isinstructed while being located at the top of the items in each page, itis possible to switch the display the preceding page, and also move thecursor K to the top of the newly displayed items. In addition, whendownward movement of the cursor K is instructed while being located atthe bottom of the items in each page, it is possible to switch thedisplay to the following page, and also move the cursor K to the bottomof the newly displayed items.

Therefore, the cursor K can be moved at a high speed even when an itemdisplayed on a very remote menu screen is to be selected.

(4) Other Embodiments

In the second embodiment described above, the jog dial 36J having arotation and a click mechanisms is used as an input apparatus for movingthe cursor K and deciding an item. However, the present invention is notonly limited to this, but is widely applicable to input apparatus havingother structure as long as the input apparatus is used in which theoperational directions for inputting the movement of the cursor K andconfirming a selected item are different.

For example, a jog shuttle in which the rotating angle is limited to aspecified value can be used. A track ball or a joy stick with a clickmechanism can also be used. Further, a slide switch with a clickmechanism can be used. Even if these apparatuses are used, it ispossible to realize a communication terminal apparatus with a smallnumber of operation keys and a good portability, as in the secondembodiment described above.

In addition, in the second embodiment described above, the movablemicrophone 33 is provided on the main body 32. However, the presentinvention is not only limited to this, but is widely applicable toportable telephone apparatuses with microphone fixed.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above, the jog dial 36Jis operated in the upward and downward directions to move the cursor Kupward and downward, respectively. However, the present invention is notonly limited to this, but the jog dial 36J can be operated upward anddownward to move the cursor K rightward and leftward.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above, if the jog dial36J is operated upward while detailed information from the telephonebook list is being displayed, the display screen is switched to a menuscreen belonging to the higher layer, that is, the list screen for namesof communicatees, and the cursor is moved to the section displayed abovethe communicatee whose detailed information has been displayed. However,the present invention is not only limited to this, but, as shown in FIG.34, detailed information on the item directly above can be displayedwhen the cursor is operated upward, while detailed information on theitem directly below can be displayed when the cursor is operateddownward. In this case, the clear key 36H can be used to return to thelist screen.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above, names ofcommunicatees are input to the telephone book list in alphabets.However, the present invention is not only limited to this, but names ofcommunicatees can be input in katakana.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above, the jog dial 36Jis used to switch from the registration section for displaying names ofcommunicatees with high use frequency to the display section ofdescending order for displaying names of communicatee in the descendingalphabetical order. However, this invention is not only limited to this,but a exclusive operation key or an existing operation key (for example,the “#” key) can be used to switch the display.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above, characters andnumbers displayed on the display 35 are displayed using two types offonts. However, the present invention is not only limited to this, butmiddle size fonts can be used in addition to the large and the smallfonts.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above, an SIM card isused as an ID card for storing all the management information for asubscriber. However, this invention is not only limited to this, but IDcards that conform to other standards can be used.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above, when the jog dial36J is operated upward while the cursor K is positioned at the top ofthe items on a page, the cursor K jumps to the top of the precedingpage, whereas when the jog dial 36J is operated downward while thecursor K is positioned at the bottom of the items on a page, the cursorK jumps to the bottom of the following page. However, the presentinvention is not only limited to this, but only the upward or thedownward scroll function can be operated.

In addition, the cursor K can be moved to the following page when thejog dial is operated downward wherever the cursor K may be positioned ona page, whereas the cursor K can be moved upward by one item when thejog dial 36J is operated upward. On the contrary, the cursor K can bemoved to the preceding page when the jog dial 36J is operated upwardwherever the cursor K can be located on a page, whereas it can be moveddownward by one item when the jog dial 36J is operated downward.

While there has been described in connection with the preferredembodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be aimed, therefore, tocover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A communication terminal apparatus, comprising: abody; transmitting and receiving means arranged in said body; displaymeans arranged in said body; a plurality of keys arranged on said bodyand to which a plurality of communicatees are respectively assigned; andcontrol means for displaying on said display means an initial imageincluding a time of day when no operation is performed by a user for apredefined time, for controlling said transmitting and receiving meansto originate a call to a communicatee when one of said plurality of keyscorresponding to the desired communicates is depressed for apredetermined time while said initial image is displayed on said displaymeans, and for controlling said display means to switch said displaymeans from displaying said initial image to displaying an imageincluding information related to the desired communicatee when the callis originated.
 2. The communication terminal apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said information is a name and number of the desiredcommuncatee.